The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-08-26
THE HONOLULU RIFLES.
Banquet to Lieutenant-Colo
mel v. v. Ashford.

The letters IL. r., in yellow and
green lights, Pickering over the
doorway, indicated the entrance 10
the Armory. On entering pretty
sight greeted the eye, and inspired
the gazer with feeling that he was
in the tropics. Four tables, each
GO feet long, with seats for 6S per-
sons at each, running lengthwise of
the Armory, for the four companies ;
a fifth table with As seats, running
at right angles to the other tables,
for the battalion officers and guests,
were equisitely ornamented, (the
work of Mr.. Ii. Hart and his as
sistants), and laden with large
variety of tempting edibles. At the
Beretania-street end of the Armory,
the motto, "Semper Paratus" Gal
ways ready under which Col. Ash
ford served in the Canadian service,
and which has been adopted by the
Honolulu Rifles, was divided by the
Union Jack and the Hawaiian flag.
AT the other end the letters A. b.
G. d. (the four companies) in red,
yellow, blue and green lights re-
spectively, the work of the Portu-
guese company, appeared in admir-
able design, above the American
and Hawaiian flags. Eight baskets
of fragrant flowers, hung at inter-
walls along the center of the room,
while streamers of red, white and
blue encircled the iron rods and
palm leaves, entwined with bunting
and sweet scented flowers, were in
superb profusion. Plants growing
in boxes, with festoons of flags,
flowers and evergreens were en-
chanting. Mr.. Geo. Stratemeyer
was the genius of decoration, he
having done all but the colored
lights and tables. Messrs. T. II.
Davies & Co. kindly supplied the
bunting and flags; Mr.. Along the
palms from his Waikiki residence;
Mr.. Kidwell, the Government nurs-
cry, and Miss Nolte the flowers;
Messrs. Wilder G. Co., the lumber
used for the tables and supports;
Mr.. Hopper made the table horses,
Messrs. Hackfeld q Co. and Messrs.
j. T. Warehouse & Co. supplied
the table linen, all free of charge.
The banquet began shortly after
eight O. clock. AT the same table
with Colonel Ashford, the guest of
the evening, were two or three
dozen other guests. A splendid cold
collation. was laid out by Messrs.
Hart & Steiner, of the Elite Ice
Cream parlors. After refreshment,
came long list of toasts and re-
sponses.
The first toast, proposed by Ma
jor Hebbard, was Ellis Majesty
King Kalakaua. 1t was received
with enthusiastic cheers, and the
Band played the national anthem.
"Queen Victoria" came next" God
save the Queen" was played, and
Capt. c. w. Ashford responded.
He expressed pleasure at being
called upon to speak for so good
woman and so excellent sovereign.
Queen Victoria reigns over an en-
pire without a written constitution,
but still she is a constitutional SOW
ereign. She reigns according to the
wish of the people, and that is why
she is honored and revered, and for
the same reason her name will be
honored in all future generations.
"The President of the United
States" was received in the same
spirit as the preceding toasts, and
with loud and prolonged cheering.
The "Star Spangled Banner was
played by the Band. Mr.. Walter
Fl. Leman, of San Francisco, res
ponded. He was highly gratifed at
being present to do honor to the
gallant commander of the Honolulu
Rifles, who was a man on the side of
good government and had shown
himself the supporter of the best
interests of this kingdom. He (the
speaker) appreciated very highly
the compliment which had been
paid to the flag under which he was
born. He closed his animated
speech by reciting, in a strong,
clear voice and with considerable
pathos, "The Army of the Dead"
He resumed his seat amid great
cheering.
Mr.. r. w. Lame was loudly
called for, and found it impossible
to get off without coming to his feet.
He spoke of being especially at a
great disadvantage in following so
able and eloquent a speaker as the
gentleman who Immediately preced-
ed him. That voice was familiar to
him away back in the 5O's, and it
was still the same. He was not in
a position to talk of "the army of
the sdead," because he was not one
of them. He, however, had belong
ed to the navy. With regard to the
movement here for better govern
ment, he was in sympathy with it,
and always held himself in readiness
to contribute his assistance when
needed.
s'Kaiser William" was received
with applause and musical honors,
and Mr.. +. G.. Schumann respond
ed. 1t is fact, said he, that the
crrnnh AID Emnnrnr is nniNnrsallN